Compositions comprising diatom frustules and applications thereof
AssigneePortland State University
InventorsLester Lampert, Haiyan Li
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed embodiments concern a composition comprising a diatom frustule and two or more photocatalytic nanoparticles dispersed on the surface of the frustule. Also disclosed are embodiments of a method for making the composition. The nanoparticles are dispersed such that they are separate and not in physical contact with each other. An average distance between the nanoparticles may be from greater than 0 nm to 100 nm. The nanoparticles may comprise a dopant material. Paint compositions comprising the diatom frustule compositions are also contemplated. The diatom frustule composition may be useful for removing and/or degrading volatile organic compounds, such as those present in the atmosphere.
Claims19
A composition, comprising:
- a hollow cylindrical diatom frustule;
- and
- two or more first photocatalytic metal oxide nanoparticles dispersed on a surface of the diatom frustule such that each nanoparticle is separate and not in direct physical contact with another first photocatalytic metal oxide nanoparticle, the two or more first photocatalytic metal oxide nanoparticles comprising an oxide of a metal selected from titanium, iron, copper or zinc;
- and
- two or more second photocatalytic metal oxide nanoparticles dispersed on the hollow cylindrical diatom frustule, the second photocatalytic metal oxide nanoparticles comprising an oxide of a second metal selected from titanium, iron, copper, or zinc, the second metal being different from the first metal;
- wherein a portion of the surface of the hollow cylindrical diatom frustule is free from metal oxide.
A composition, comprising:
- a hollow cylindrical diatom frustule comprising an interior surface and an exterior surface, the hollow cylindrical diatom frustule comprising a surface area of between 20 and 200 m2/g and a diameter of between 2 and 500 μm;
- and
- two or more titanium oxide nanoparticles dispersed on each of the interior and exterior surfaces of the hollow cylindrical diatom frustule such that each titanium oxide nanoparticle is separate and not in direct physical contact with another titanium oxide nanoparticle;
- and
- two or more iron oxide nanoparticles dispersed on each of the interior and exterior surfaces.
A composition, comprising:
- a hollow cylindrical diatom frustule comprising an interior surface and an exterior surface, the hollow cylindrical diatom frustule comprising a surface area of between 20 and 200 m2/g and a diameter of between 2 and 500 um;
- two or more first photocatalytic metal oxide nanoparticles dispersed on each of the interior and exterior surfaces of the hollow cylindrical diatom frustule such that each of the first photocatalytic metal oxide nanoparticles is separate and not in direct physical contact with another first photocatalytic metal oxide nanoparticle, the first photocatalytic metal oxide nanoparticles comprising an oxide of a first metal selected from titanium, iron, copper, or zinc;
- and
- two or more second photocatalytic metal oxide nanoparticles dispersed on each of the interior and exterior surfaces, the second photocatalytic metal oxide nanoparticles comprising an oxide of a second metal selected from titanium, iron, zinc, or copper, the second metal being different from the first metal;
- and
- wherein at least a portion of the interior and exterior surfaces of the hollow cylindrical diatom frustule is free from metal oxide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.